Thailand
We work closely with partners such as the Foundation for Older Persons' Development to:
- help older people in their homes by carrying out repairs, improving sanitation, and providing mobility aids and medical check-ups
- support volunteers who provide care at home to frail and disadvantaged older people
- campaign for a pension for all older people
- involve older people in activities that will earn them an income
- help older people talk directly to governments about their needs through our Age Demands Action campaign.
The difference we made in 2009-10
- Thanks to our campaigning, 73% of older people now get a pension, compared to 25% previously.
- We have helped 80 trained volunteers provide care at home to 150 poor, frail older people.
- We have recruited and trained 30 new volunteers to provide care at home for more older people in need.
- Three Bangkok organisations are now also using our model of home care provided by volunteers.
- We have set up an Older People Watch Group, through which 40 volunteers in eight villages explain older people's rights to villagers and local authorities, as well as helping older people claim their rights.
What next?
- We will keep fighting for pensions to increase.
- We will encourage other organisations to follow our home care programme using volunteers - sharing our knowledge so that home care gets better across the country.
- We will go on empowering older people to lead their own campaigns for change, for instance through our Age Demands Action campaign.
Our partners
Foundation for Older Persons' Development (FOPDEV), Senior Citizen Council of Thailand (Chiang Mai), Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Civil Society Network for Welfare State